Sedition charges against cartoonist Aseem Trivedi dropped

Mumbai, Oct 12: Sedition charges against cartoonist-turned-activist Aseem Trivedi have been dropped by Maharashtra government on Friday, Oct 12.

The decision to drop sedition charges against cartoonist Aseem Trivedi was informed to Bombay high court by Maharashtra govt.

Kanpur-based award winning cartoonist and India Against Corruption activist, Aseem, was arrested by Mumbai Police on charges of sedition on Sept 8.

The 25-year-old invited charges of sedition for posting 'ugly and obscene' content on his web portal. Aseem was charged with sedition for insulting national symbols in his cartoons. However, he was released after Bombay High Court granted him bail.

The Attorney General told the Bombay High Court that the sedition charges against Aseem were a 'knee-jerk reaction'. The AG also said that the state will draft a circular on Section 124 A and this will be presented to the Chief Justice for approval, after which it will be sent out to all police stations.

Aseem was arrested under IPC Section 124 (sedition), Section 66 A of Information Technology Act and Section 2 of Prevention of Insults to Nation Honour Act.